OPG update: July 2022

Fees increase

The majority of fees payable to the Public Guardian increased from 1 July 2022. Under the Adults with Incapacity (Public Guardian’s Fees) (Scotland) Regulations 2022, fee levels will increase at planned intervals.

Fees from 1 July 2022 until 31 March 2023 are shown in sched 1. Submitting a power of attorney document or deed of amendment costs £83; registration fees for intervention or guardianship orders increase to £93; all fees associated with supervising guardians increase.

Fees from 1 April 2023 until 31 March 2024 are shown in sched 2; fees from 1 April 2024 onwards are shown in sched 3.

Change to waiting time

From 18 July 2022, registered powers of attorney that require to be amended, and new PoAs revoking a registered PoA, will be queued and processed in date order along with all new PoA submissions.

This measure will enable OPG to focus resources on pre-registration submissions, resulting in reduced overall waiting time. Where there are circumstances requiring expedited submission, please email opg@scotcourts.gov.uk with the details. Some amendments can be complicated to apply, and it is often easier and costs the same for the old PoA to be revoked and a new PoA registered.

Bond of caution forms

Marsh Ltd has contacted OPG to advise that some solicitors are using an old version of its application form (SCOT18).

Using the older version may lead to a delay in the bond being accepted and set up, as it contains a previous postal address. The application form with reference SCOT21 should be used as it has all the up-to-date details.